How-To

How to Install Windows 11 Without an Internet Connection

By Brian Burgess

Last Updated on July 25, 2022

Windows 11 wants the internet when you set up a new device. So, we’ll show you how to install Windows 11 without an internet connection.

When initially installing Windows 11, it wants to connect to the internet. Microsoft wants you to create an account for your new device or when doing a clean install using a data connection.

However, you might not want to create a Microsoft account and instead have a more traditional offline experience. Or, you may need to set up your PC and don’t have internet.

Luckily, there is a workaround you can use to bypass the internet requirement. So here’s how you can install Windows 11 without an internet connection.

Install Windows 11 without Internet

If you need to install Windows 11 without the internet, there are a few steps to take. However, the process is straightforward.

To install Windows 11 without internet, do the following:

1. Go through the initial setup screens and select your country on the first out-of-box-experience (OOBE) screen.
2. Next, choose your keyboard layout on the following OOBE screen.
3. Click the Skip button if you don’t need a second keyboard layout.
4. When the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen appears, press Shift + F10 on your keyboard.
5. In the Command Prompt window that appears, type the following command, and hit Enter.

   OOBE\BYPASSNRO

   

6. Your PC will restart and begin the OOBE again – enter your region and keyboard layout a second time.
7. When the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen appears, click the I don’t have internet link.
8. On the following screen of the OOBE, click Continue with limited setup on the bottom-right.
9. Click the Accept button when the EULA appears.

Create a Local Account on Windows 11

Now that you’re past the initial request to connect to the internet, you can create a local account following the on-screen instructions.

To create a local account, do the following:

1. Type in the name of the local user and click Next.
2. Type in a password for the local user account twice to confirm.
3. Complete the three security questions required to recover the account if needed.
4. Choose the privacy settings you want to use for the PC and click Accept. Note that you can change your privacy options in Settings.
5. Wait a few moments while Windows 11 gets set up.
6. When it completes the setup process, you can begin using Windows 11 as a local user.

Using Windows 11

Now that you installed Windows, you can begin setting it up and using the OS. This method works on both Windows 11 Home and Pro and avoids the need to create a Microsoft account. However, it’s worth mentioning that your files won’t sync to other machines where you use a Microsoft account.

If you’re not on Windows 11 yet, check out how to create a local user account on Windows 10.

Windows 11 has an overhauled UI that you might not like, including a centered Start menu. The good news is you can move the Start button to the left with minimal effort. You’ll also want to look at new features like Widgets, Teams Chat, and Snap Layouts.